The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-19

We got on very well for while The
breeze was rather behind us, aud sent no
dashing along beautifully. BY deorees
however, the yacht began to plunge deener
and deeper. The sea got up, and broke on
board frequently. 1 didn't care. as was
accustomed to salt water, and minded the
boy.
Lady Pardock came and stood by me ssJ
think Captain Armstrong was right Mra
Farmer, - she said. 81 heard the master toll
Mr.. Hemphill that the wind was veerine n
the southwest" At that moment Mr.
Hemphill came up with Mrs. Cardewe. who
was glad to lie back in the stern Of the
yacht and be covered with shawls and tar
paulins. She looked wretched
II think that it will be more prudent m
run for Weymouth at oncen said Nv
Hemphill. "If we put into Lulworth-sun-
posing we can make the entrance which ia
doubtful-we can get no real accommoda-
ton. Now at Weymouth we can, and there
are the train and the telegraph, plenty of
shops and so on"
The ladies agreed to this suggestion. and
the yacht was headed for Portland Ril
Even Lady Pardock had had enough of the
sea water before sunset. The waves dashed
in and forced us to go below. The wind
rose, as any one who remembers that after
noon will recollect 1t got fierce by five
o'clock and positively boisterous by six.
] Great waves rolled up from the southwest
and we plunged fearfully into the sea- We
had only jib on her, and two reefs in the
mainsail were taken in.
Nevertheless we plunged on to windward.
for the Captain did not dare to turn now
and 'scudn We tackled and tackled, beat
ing on until the sun went down, and We did
not seem to be much nearer Weymouth or
| Portland Roads, for which we were aiming
From Portland Island the great Chesil
Beach, knew, and so did all the sailors.
extended right away to Bridgeport, where
the mighty Portland stones have dwindled
through all shapes and sizes of pebbles to
sand and gravel; and the biggest always
the highest up the bank
The Captain, or sailing-master, was brave
enough, but anxious; the crew were steady;
the gentlemen on board were serious; the
ladies very i'll and quite careless of danger
The little heir was fast asleep in my arms,
and as we heeled over and listened to the
| slapping and dashing Of the waves outside,
and the rush of water across the deck. I
prayed earnestly and wondered whether we
should ever see Cardewe manor again
III.
| 1t was evening and we were past Portland
Bill. The Captain said we must go about
and run in on the tide to make all the lee
way up. The wind Twas dead on shore. The
| waves beat high upon the Chesil bank, and
| if could do some fine writing l could tell
| you about the curling tops of the masses of
water which poured on the shingle But
that was nothing to the next days sea-
| That shall never forget.
| The FREELY had been sighted and con-
siderable anxiety had been expressed con-
corning her. Little did l think that among
the people who were watching us were
Charley and Captain Armstrong, in fear for
the result Charley told me afterward that
the Captain was as cool as ever, and ap-
parently afraid of getting wet; so he hired
| cab and drove down through Weymouth
to the island, leaving Mr.. and Mrs. Martyn-
Henry at the hotel to receive the party if
they ran alongside the pier safely.
The evening was deepening into blus-
tering and stormy night as Charley and
Captain Armstrong drove to Portland, and
| our yacht was driving on. We were still
below, when the easier motion of our yacht,
consequent on our running before the wind,
| induced US to go on deck. Behind US was
llmltless, tumbllng sea, dark clouds and
rain; in front the Chesil bank, the island
with its guarries and its prisoners, and the
| smooth water of the roads beyond. In an
hour or so we should be riding alongside
the pier or in the harbor or pulling ashore
to catch the train home. So we saidt
But how is this? We are rot going for
the harbor directl Yes, we are-what is
that behind us?-a roar, then a flash, and
another roar. Blow blow, good wind, ere
| the storm overtalles us, or we shall fare
badly. Flap! flap! The wind has suddenly
| failed u.s. 1--WE are in the very center of a
little cyclone!" SO said the Captain.
'Bear a hand, men; we shall be taken
| aback in a minuter' shouted the master
rushing to the tiller 'Furl, all-up with
her-leave the jib alone, clew up the main
SAIL SMART"
No time to lose. Flap Boom comes the
wind from the northeast with rush. The
FREELY heels over like toy, the jib strains
up with the helmn' The canvas splits
with fearful, rending, ripping report, and
the yacht drives down upon Portland
STEADY, men! All hands out of the
dinghy Remember the women and the
| child Bend the foresail. Let her rum
roared the master. The yacht paid off and
| turning her back on the sea- rushed down
channel-alas! into a tide-eddy, which
sucked her under the rocks of Portland
Island as the wind veered again.
The soldiers at the Verne by this time
were crowded upon the cliffs to see the
| wreck" Some shouted for ropes, some
for rockets, but neither were forthcoming
The yacht drove in, and in five minutes ran
between two rocks, where (the wind having
chopped again to the southwest) she re-
manned stern to sea-frequently swept by
| the waves, and apparently with only few
| minutes to live We were screaming and
in the most terrible distress. Lady Par
dock alone said not word. She took her
child from my arms and said:
Mrs. Farmer, try and save yourself
when the time comes. Jocelyn and will
| die together"
| Mamma, am very hungry. May have
some tea soonl' whimpered Jocelyn.
| The mother kissed him passionately.
Tears came into my eyes as remembered
my own children and Charley. Was this
| death!
Mr.. Hemphill did all he could to cheer us.
| 'They will find rocket and we can reach
those rocks there on the beach. 1t is not so
rough here as yonder. We are lucky" he
| said.
Lucky thought. Lucky to die in two
minutes or less when the yacht begins to
break up!